Safety device for electric bridge cranes



Sept. 1, 1925.

H. B. NEWHALL ET AL S-AFETY'DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC BRIDGE CRANES Filed March 21 1924 fao 10/ rl Il.

.Ealiniiism M /mw In 1491250215; Henry JVwhall, Z7

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\ an apparatus or Patented Sept. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT7oFF1c'E...

HENRY E. NEWTTALL, or TLATNEIELD,

NEW JERSEY, AND ERNEST E. SMITH', or'` QUEENS, NEW YoRx; SAID smTHnSsreNoR To NEW JERSEY roTrNnRY'l a MA CHINE COMPANY, .A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY..

SAFETY DEVICEIOB. ELECTRIC BRIDGE CBANES.

Application filed March 21, 1924. Serial No. 700,916.

To all whom t may concern:

lBe it known that we, HENRY B. NEWHALL and ERNEST F. SMITH, citizens of the United States, and residents of 1277 Woodland Ave., city of Plainfield, county of Union, and State of New Jersey, and 8912 116th Street, Queens, county of Queens, and State-of New York, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devicesv for Electric Bridge Cranes, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to safety devices for electric bridge cranes carrying trolleys movable therefrom to transfer beams, though it is noted that the invention is not necessarily limited to cranes of this type, nor in some respects even to cranes.

One object of the invention is to provide l device of this kind in which the crane will not move unless the trolley is on it.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus or device of this kind in which the trolley will not run off a transfer beam unless a crane is ready to receive it, that is, the trolley-will not run olf the open end of a transfer beam.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above kind in which emergency means are provided for moving the trolley from near the open end of a transfer beam. j f

Other objects of the invention are to improve generally the Simplicity and efliciency of such devices and to provide a device or apparatus of this kind which is durab e, economical to manufacture and operate and which will not get'outof order. j

Still other objects of the inventionjwill appearv as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are' described, the invention is not limited to these since many and various changes may be made without departing the invention as claimed.

The inventive features for the accomplish- Y. ment of these and other objects are shown herein in connection with an improved crane and transfer spur system which, `briefly stated, includes a bridge crane with a trolleyl there adapted to -move from the crane to transfer beams. Means are providedwhereby the crane isprevented from moving 11nles's the trolley is thereon,

from the scope of and whereby the trolley is prevented from moving off the end of the transfer beam unless the crane isthere to receive it.

In the accompanying drawing, showing by way of example, one of many possible embodiments of t e invention- Fig. l is' a diagrammatic plan showing the system, and j Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, showing the side of the bridge, trolley and transfer beam.

Our Safety device is shown in combination with a traveling bridge crane including a bridge beam 10 and trucks 12 carrying Wheels 14 running on track beams 15. A pair of collectors 17 and 18 on the bridge engage a pair of main conductors 19 and 20 from any suitable Source of current G. A motor 21 connected by gears 22 with one of the wheels 14 for driving Said crane is provided with .conductors 23, 24 and 25 for connecting said -motor with said contactors. A circuit breaker or opener interposed in Said conductor 24, 25 includes a pair of parallel conductor bar-S128 and 27 respectivelymounted longitudinally on the bridge. A shoe 30 fast on a trolley 31 movable longitudinally on the bridge engages between said bars to connect the latter when the trolley is onthe bridge `and to break the circuitwhenthe trolley leaves the bridge so. the motor cannot be operated or the bridgezmoved unless a trolley is thereon.` .j

Conductor members 34 and 35 g longitudinally mounted on the bridge and connected by jumpers 36 and-3710 saidcollectors are engaged by' collector.l .contacts 38, 39 of 'a motor 40 on thetrolley` for .driving the trolley. Transfer beams 42 disposed laterally 'ofthe `main -trackway receive the trolley from the bridge; and-apair of fixed conductors 44 and 45-mounted parallel and`near the-transfer beams are alinable with said conductor` members 34v and 35 when thefbrfidge isalined withutheatransfer beam. One of saidfixed conductors ..45 includes= a main live `*section 46 and adead Section 47 separated. vfrom vthe live `section by an insulatorv l48...- A jumper 50,l connecting said .dead section `with said live Section has interposedtherein a circuit closer or breaker comprisingl a kpair :offixed shoes 52 andconnected to themembers 50, 51 of thejumperanda movable piece bridge.

l receive it.

55 mounted on a bracket 56. on the truck A13 and engaging and electrically connecting an emergency switch 60 interposed therein.`

whereby said vdead Section 47 may be electrified at will.

Itis, of course, understood that there may be many transfer beams along the line o f the crane runway; and, as is often the case, they may' form loops, so the trolley may run off' the crane and. then around the loop to another transfer beam where no crane would be at the time standing to receive it, and run off the open end were it not for thev circuit being opened between the shoes 52 and 53. As the trolley may become turned around, the shoes 30. and 55 are duplicated on opposite sides of the trolley. y

The system herein is designed for direct current. If alternating current is used, the various circuit breaker means may be provided. for each conductor line.`

We claim as our invention: b

l. In combination, a travelling bridge crane; a pair of collectors thereon; a pair of main conductors engaged by said collectors; a motor for driving said crane; conductors for connecting said motor with said collectors; a trolley movable longitudinally of the bridge; a vcircuit breaker interposed inone of said conductorscomprising a pair of parallel conductor bars respectively mounted longitudinally on the bridge, and a shoe fast on said trolley engaging between 'said bars to connect the latter when the trolley is on the bridge and to break the circuit when the trolley leaves the bridge; and transfer beams disposed laterally of the crane runway or main trackway for 2. In combination, a crane; a trolleyj/ a transfer beam; electric drive means for the trolley; and automatic means for cutting off the current from the drive means for pre- A, venting the trolley from leavingthe trans `fer beam when the cra-ne is not 1n place to 3. In combination, '-a crane; a means for moving said crane; a trolley on th'e'crane; transfer beams with which the crane may be alinedk conductor members' on said crane; amotor-on the trolley provided with collector contacts engageable with said conductor members; fixed conductors near the transfer beams engageable by said contacts re breaker connecting said dead end with said main' portion vincluding)a movable piece receiving the. trolley from thev mounted on the bridge for closing the circuit breaker when the bridge 'is alined lwith the transfer beam. l

:4. nIn combination, a crane; a means for moving said crane; a trolley-on the crane; a device for rendering said moving means inoperativeV when the trolley leaves the bridge; ,transfer beams fol` receiving the trolley from the crane; a motor for moving the trolley; and a device for rendering the 'trolley motor inoperative when the ltrolley ley from the bridge; a pair of' fixed conducl tors mounted parallel and near the transfer beams and alinable' with said conductor members when the bridge is alined with the transfer beam; one of saidfxed conductors includicng a main live section and a dead section;"a jumper connecting said dead end with said main portion; a circuit closer interposed in said jumper comprising va pair of fixed shoes connected to the members of theA jumperand a movable piece mounted on the bridge, engaging and connecting said shoes when the bridge is alined with' the transfer beam. v

6. In combination, a crane; a trolley; a transfer beam; means for preventing the trolleyA from leaving thev transfer beam when the crane is not in line to receive it;

and emergency means for at will supplying the transfer beams engageable by said con-' tacts; one of said fixed conductors including a main live section, and a` dead section near thedcrane runway; af`c1rcu1t closer connecting 'said dead. end withsaid main portion including amovable piece vmounted on the bridge for closing the circuit .closer 'whenV the bridge is alined with thetransfer beam: andv emergency means whereby said dead section may be electrified.

8. In combination, a crane;'-a moto-r 'for moving said crane; a trolley on the crane; transfer beams for receiving the trolley said brid e; means supplyingJ current to.

from the crane; conductor `-members' on said inem ers; a motor on the trolley provided with collector contacts enga able with said conductor members; fixe conductors near the ,transfer beams engageable by said contacts; one of said fixed conductors including a main live section, and a dead section near the crane runway; a circuit closer connecting said dead end with said main portion including a movable piece mounted on the brid e for closing the circuit closer when the bri ge is alined with the transfer beam; an emergency jumper .connecting saidv sections; and an emergency switch interposed therein whereby said dead section maybe electrified at will.

9. In combination, a Abridge crane; a

motor for said crane; conductors for sup plying current for said motor; a trolley on the crane; a circuit breaker interposed in one of said conductors crossed by the trolley ywhen the trolley is on the bridge and adapted to break the circuit when the trolley leaves the bridge; -transfer beams for receiving the trolley from the bridge; conductor members on said bridge; a motor on Y the trolle provided with collector contacts engageabe with said conductor members;

fixed conductors near the transfer beams engageable by'said contacts; one of said fixed ,conductors including a main live Section,

and a dead section near the crane runway; a circuit closer connectin with said main portion inc uding a movable piece mounted on the bridge for closing the circuit closer when the bri `ge is alined with the transfer beam; and einer ency means whereby said dead section may 10. In combination, a crane; a trolley thereon; land means includin an electric conductor carriedby the tro ey for preventing movement' of the crane when the trolley is not thereon.

11. In combination, a crane; a motor for said crane; a trolley on the crane; and conductors fo supplying current for said motor; sai conductors being vin part carried by the trolley for cutting oil said current when. the trolley is not on the crane.

12. In combination, acrane; a means formoving said crane; a trolley on the crane;

' and a device including a -member fixed on the trolley for rendering said means inoperative when the trolley leaves the bridge.

13. In combination, a beam; a vtrolley thereon for transporting loads; a motor for said trolley; and means automatically disabling themotor as the trolley 'nears the end of the beam.

14. In combination, a crane including a' bridge beam; a trolley on the bridge beam;

transfer beams for receiving the trolley from the bridge beam; -a motor on the `trolsai'd dead end electrified.

ley provided with a contact; a fixed -conductor including a live section and a dead section between the live section and the path of the crane, bothsections being mounted near the transfer beam and engageable by said contact; and means for cuttingol current from said dead section when the"`brid e beam is'out o-f alinement with the transenbeam, and while'current is on the live sect`1`n.\- l

15. In combination, a crane including a bridge beam; a trolley on the bridge v beam;

transfer beams vfor 'receiving the trolle from the bridge beam; a motor on the tro ley provided witha contact; a fixed conductor including a live section both mounted near the transfer beams and engageableby said contact, when 16. In combination, a crane including a bridge beam; a trolley on the bridge beam; a. transfer beam for receiving the from the bridge beam; a conductor member carried on said crane; means for supplying current to said conductor member;

a motor on the trolle provided with a section and a deadtrolley contact engageable with said conductor I member; a fixed conductor including-a live section separated from said conductor f member mounted near the transfer beam and engageable by said contact when the crane is on the transfer beam; and means for rendering the motor ino erative when v the bridge beam is out .of a nement with the transfer beam.

17. In combination, a crane including a bridge beam; a trolley on the bridge beam; vtransfer beams for receiving the trolley from the bridge beam; a .conductor member longitudinally mounted on said crane; means or supplying current to said member; a motor on the 'trolley provided with a contact en ageable with saidl conductor member; a xed conductor separate from said-conductor member and including a live section and a dead section both mounted parallel and near the transfer beamsl and Y .f alinable with said conductor member, when;v

- the bridge beam is alined with`the transfer beam; and means for cutting olf current from the dead section while itis still supplied to said conductor'member.

Signed at New York, in the county of New nineteenth day of March, A. D. 1924.

HENRY B. NEWHALL. ERiuis'i F. SMITH.

York and State of New York, this l 

